Young Professionals of Vermont: Ryan McCabe

“Continue to learn new things and don't be afraid to ask questions.”

Ryan McCabe, 35, is a design engineer living in Essex Junction.

How did Vermont become home for you?My fiancée Lindsey is from Vermont and I am from Colorado. Lindsey was starting to look for work in Vermont and landed a job here. I work remotely and my company also has an east coast office in Massachusetts, so I was able to keep my job and make the move, so I decided to go for it.

What keeps you here?

I have only been here for about 2 months, but I love the laid back feel. VT is a beautiful place and I have enjoyed my time here.

What keeps you busy outside of work?

I have mountain biked a little bit at Saxon Hill which is a lot of fun. Lindsey's dad has a sail boat on Lake Champlain and I have gotten out with him a few times and that is a lot of fun, the lake is incredible. Lindsey and I have done a few hikes with the dogs and enjoyed that.

What about Vermont makes you want to build your career here?

Seems like a great place to raise kids and I like the rural feel.

When you hear the word success, what person comes to mind?

Shane McConkey. I am a big skier and Shane was a big name in the industry when I was younger. He did what he loved and never had a big ego about it.

What advice would you give to other young professionals in Vermont?

Continue to learn new things and don't be afraid to ask questions.

What excites you most about living and working in Vermont?

Vermont is still very new to me, so that in its self is the most exciting thing for me. I am here with my fiancée Lindsey and very happy about that.

What unique advantages do we have in Vermont?

5 cents for bottles!! I did my first bottle exchange and that was exciting for me.

What is the most challenging thing about working in Vermont?

I think the job pool is somewhat limited due to how small the state is.

If you could change one thing in Vermont, what would it be?

Lindsey and I recently bought a house and did not find out till we were pretty far along in the deal that we needed to come up with quite a bit more at closing than we expected. We found out we had to pay out to the sellers their Income Sensitivity Tax Credit. I had our real estate lawyer explain the tax credit to me and for the most part I think I understand, but the whole thing seems pretty odd to me.

What does it mean to be a Young Professional?

To have a career that will allow you to expand your skills and knowledge.

How can Vermont recruit and retain young professionals?

Offer jobs that pay as well or close to as well as the city. I think there are a lot of young people who would like to live and work here but are not able to find a good job.